Detroit Country Day shuts out Saginaw Swan Valley, 38-0, in Saturday football semifinal, now heading to Ford Field for championship game

The Detroit Country Day players engage in pre-game preparation. (Seth Walker)

Coach Dan MacLean speaking to Country Day players following their win against Swan Valley

Detroit Country Day is one win away from a Division 4 state championship after beating Saginaw Swan Valley, 38-0, in a semifinal football game Saturday.

Country Day got four touchdowns on 81 yards rushing from Richard Wilson, while the defense controlled the game and had four fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets (11-2) will head to Ford Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday to face Grand Rapids South Christian (10-3), who beat Comstock Park, 21-7 in the other D4 semifinal.

With Country Day’s first state championship game since 2008 in sight, coach Dan MacLean said his team’s final regular season game, a loss to Brighton, as a turning point. The Yellow Jackets have one four playoff game since.

“We lost Richie (Wilson) in the first series of the game, and then it looked like it was going to be a lop-sided game,'' MacLean said. "(But) our team came back at the end and we had a chance to tie that game.

“It was good to see that our team didn’t quit because we had an opportunity that game.”

Trevor Woodland had the defensive touchdown when he fell on the ball in the end zone after a botched snap by Swan Valley halfway through the second quarter.

“Our defense answered the call time again,” MacLean said. The defense just hangs in there, lets the offense get on track and that’s the sign of a good team.”

On offense, quarterback Tyler Wiegers completed 12-of-19 passes for 213 yards, moving the team into position for Wilson's touchdown runs.

“Coming from the defensive side, when you have a quarterback like him (to face), you can’t ever rest,” MacLean said. “If you stop the run, you have to contend with the pass, and that’s what Tyler gives us.”

Soto Raphtis added a 36-yard field goal for Country Day.

For Swan Valley, Alex Grace rushed for 71 yards fwhile Travis Bell completed all four of his passes. Though Swan Valley players were dejected after the loss, they made a great turnaround from last year’s 5-4 season.

"We just wanted to keep working and improve on last year," Swan Valley coach Ken Bourbina said. "But these kids kept working and working. They kept improving. I'm extremely proud of this team."

On the other side of the field, MacLean spoke to his players about how proud he was, but also about the need to focus on the “short week” before the championship game on Friday.

“They’re kind of a quiet team, but all of them lead by example, the seniors have been great,” MacLean said. “They’re making up their minds. We’ll see, and we have an exciting week coming up ahead.”